WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27) and Sean Casten (D-IL-06) introduced the Stop Crypto ATM Scams Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen consumer protections, combat fraud, and help ensure that criminals using cryptocurrency ATMs to target seniors and other vulnerable Americans are held accountable.?
According to the FBI, Americans lost more than $333 million to crypto ATM scams in 2025, a 33 percent increase from the previous year. Older Americans are disproportionately affected. In reported cases where a victim’s age was known, individuals age 60 and older accounted for more than 85 percent of losses linked to crypto ATM fraud.
The Stop Crypto ATM Scams Act would establish new safeguards to help prevent fraud, strengthen transparency requirements for crypto ATM operators, and provide law enforcement with additional tools to investigate…
Investment fraud targets the human desire for financial growth by promising high returns with “low to no risk.”
- Ponzi Schemes: Named after Charles Ponzi, these schemes pay “returns” to earlier investors using the capital brought in by newer investors. There is no actual underlying business; the system collapses when new recruitment slows down.
- Pyramid Schemes: Similar to Ponzi schemes, but participants are usually required to sell a product or service. The primary “profit” comes from the recruitment fees of new members rather than actual product sales.
- Pump and Dump: Fraudsters spread false, positive rumors about a cheap stock (the “pump”) to drive up the price. Once the price peaks, they sell their shares (the “dump”), leaving other investors with worthless stock.